Review - Season 2 Episode 13 - Tiny - "Small Packages"

Sometimes you have to leave home to find the people you truly belong with. Notoriously, big things—animals, humans, etc.—are often nicknamed “tiny” as a paradox for their true selves. And Once Upon a Time is no different. Anton, the giant who let Emma go earlier in the season, got his feature this week. The giants on top of the infamous beanstalk live to protect their portal beans. They’ve since become cautious of humans, secluding themselves above the world. Humans have a ruined reputation for using the beans for harm—conquering the realms with violence. So Anton and his brothers have sworn to protect the beans from human hands. But Anton is not like his brothers. He is fascinated by humans and their interests. He spends his time in the treasure room with the human loot. For this he is teased by his brothers and gets a stern talking-to from the eldest. Yet his fascination is deep. What if humans really aren’t that bad? What is life like down on the ground? Anton decides to discover it. Down the beanstalk he goes and runs into Prince James and the lovely Jacqueline, but everyone calls her Jack. You see, back before Prince James—the real one—was killed, he wasn’t such a good guy. He was greedy, selfish, and cocky. Okay, maybe we already knew that since that’s the reason for his death. Anyhow, just before this encounter with Anton, James and Jack had been fooling around when King George interrupts with news that there is a giant among them. Giants are just as bad news for the humans as humans are to them. James and Jack decide to check it out. Outside a little pub, the two meet Anton. With a magical pill, Jack sweet-talks Anton into taking it. It will make him small like them for a little while. Mesmerized, Anton takes it. He becomes tiny. Jack and James “befriend” the giant only to talk him into returning to the beanstalk and giving them some gold. Wanting to please his new friends, Anton heads home, a bigger man. His oldest brother finds out and scolds Anton. But the news gets worse. Anton’s lack of decorum has brought the humans to the beanstalk which has kept the brothers and the beans safe all these years. No sooner has the scolding finished that James and Jack appear. They never wanted the gold only the beans. They could conquer the world with such a possession. Anton, obeying his brother, destroys the bean field and all the beans while Jack and James begin to kill off the brothers with Jack’s poisoned sword. Anton returns to see his brother kill Jack with her own sword but not before the sword penetrates the brother. Anton rushes to his brother’s side while Prince James scurries down the beanstalk, not caring that his lady-love, Jack, is dead because of his greed. Anton’s brother gives Anton one last gift before he dies. A vile with the very last remaining bean sprout. Someday, in another land perhaps, Anton can plant the seed and grow more beans. Until then, he must keep it safe. In Storybrooke, Emma prepares to leave with Henry and Mr. Gold. Mr. Gold isn’t happy that Henry is coming, but if it will make Emma happy and move this journey on a little faster, so be it. The trio head to the airport, safely crossing the border. At the airport, they meet their first worldly obstacle, the metal detector. Per airline custom, all loose clothing must go inside the x-ray scanner while the person passes through the detector. Mr. Gold must remove his magical scarf. Worried he’ll lose his memory, he fights it, but Emma promises him that everything will be all right. Mr. Gold removes the scarf. In a few breath-holding moments, we watch as Mr. Gold struggles to retain memory or his composure. The scanner does its work and the scarf is returned. But the incident was enough to scare Mr. Gold. While the troupe waits, Mr. Gold heads for the men’s room. In a fit of rage, he slams his hand repeatedly into a dispenser, bloodying his hand. But magic does not work in this world and he is unable to heal his hand. For the first time in a while we see Mr. Gold genuinely concerned and uncertain. Back in Storybrooke, the Charmings force Hook to reveal his ship’s location and what Cora’s plans are. For the former, he consents, for the latter, he holds his tongue. For one, he’s not entirely sure, but for what he does know, he not going to just give up the valuable information so quickly. Once aboard the ship, the group discovers a tiny Anton passed out in a cage. Mary Margaret wakes him up. Anton immediately demands to know where the “witch” is. But then he spies Prince Charming. Rushing at Charming, he clocks him dead under the chin, flipping Charming in the air. There’s a grudge the tiny giant has with Charming, but what? We soon find out that it was Charming’s twin that did Anton wrong. Anton runs off before Charming can explain. He runs into Regina who gives him a magical cure. He can be big again and exact his revenge on the humans he hates. Anton downs the magic and grows. Down Main Street, Anton terrorizes the town. People scatter and run to Prince Charming and Mary Margaret. The Charmings race to the rescue, stopping the giant in his tracks. They explain the confusion, but the giant needs proof. Mary Margaret throws out Emma’s name. This catches Anton’s attention, but he wants to talk to Emma before he agrees to anything. Unfortunately, Emma’s out of town at the moment. So Prince Charming agrees to be sacrificed for the good of Storybrooke. The giant agrees to this and takes a flying jump. But Mary Margaret won’t let her Charming die. She shoves him out of the way just as the giant’s foot slams through the asphalt. This breaks the spell Anton was under to be big and he begins to shrink. Now Prince Charming must rescue the man from the sinkhole he created. Pulling the tiny giant to safety, Anton finally accepts that Prince Charming isn’t anything like his brother. Even to the point that Anton decides to plant his last bean sprout to grow the very beans that can take everyone back to the Enchanted Forest. Oh, and we found out that Prince Charming’s real name is not James but David. Who knew?! (Begs the question, again, for how the Storybrooke citizens got their “cursed” names?) Last, but not least, Ruby tries to comfort a confused Belle. She brings her books. But Belle won’t have it. She knows she saw a ball of fire appear in a man’s hand. She doesn’t know why or how, but she’s tired of having everyone tell her differently. And she’s tired of everyone calling her Belle! The nurse quickly tranquilizes Belle and takes her to her room. But Mr. Greg Mendel (the stranger) overheard. He too has seen what Belle saw. Later that night, he approaches her and confesses, much to Belle’s shock. But just what will happen now that a stranger has suspicions and has an ally? So there you have it. David is really David not James, and Jack the Giant Killer is a girl. Oh, and there is a bean left…I mean, a bean sprout which could be the key to getting back to Fairy Tale Land. All in all, there were no loose ends tied up in this episode, really. In fact, we just gained a whole new set of problems. And what’s the big bombshell for next week? My guess, as it’s always been, is that Baelfire is really Neal—Henry’s Dad. That would make Rumplestiltskin’s Henry’s grandfather. Crazy! I could be wrong but there are too many things lining up for it not to be. Watch next week’s promo in the “Video” tab for Season 2. When you see Emma’s shocked face and the barely discernible profile of the guy she’s staring at, you’ll be on board with my theory, no doubt!Burning Questions: 1) Is Bae really Neal—Henry’s Dad? 2) How will Cora leave Storybrooke to get to Rumplestiltskin to kill him with his dagger? Do you see the problem in this or just me? 3) What was your reaction to learning that David is actually…David? Did the hype disappoint? 4) How fast to beanstalks grow once planted? 5) Will Mary Margaret and Charming stay in Storybrooke or go back to Fairy Tale Land? 6) How did Bae stay so young all these years? Does he remember that he’s Bae or does he think he’s Neal (if this is true)? ‘Til next week! ~ Taryn

Monday, February 18, 2013

Review - Season 2 Episode 14 - Manhattan - "Lost Get Found"

The future is a puzzle. With many pieces to be sorted. In time you will learn to separate what can be from what will be. The land is being ravaged by Ogres. It’s the first Ogre’s War and nothing would be more honorable than to give one’s life fighting in such a war. Newly married and in love, Rumplestiltskin is overjoyed when his name is called to battle. He’ll fight in the war and come home with honor and courage where he will begin his wonderful life. Maybe even start a family. However, the front lines are not as glorious as Rumplestiltskin imagined. Rumple wanted to prove to himself that he was not a coward like his father. If he fought in this battle, he could never be charged with such a crime as cowardliness. But any war-front battle would bring out the inner coward in all of us. Rumplestiltskin is no different. That’s when Rumplestiltskin is left in charge of powerful weapon, a young seer. The young girl predicts Rumplestiltskin’s future, telling him all about his soon-to-be son. But he and his son will be separated and the boy will grow up without a father. All of this will come to pass on the morrow. Thinking that this can only come to pass as a result of his death, Rumplestiltskin concocts a plan. A plan worthy of a coward. Knowing that wounded soldiers are sent home, Rumple takes a sledgehammer to his foot, causing the familiar limp. Rumplestiltskin is sent home, but rumors of his dishonor have gone before him. When he arrives home, he’s greeted by his wife and baby son, Baelfire. But his wife isn’t happy. How could Rumple do such a thing and bring dishonor to his family—his son?! Rumplestiltskin doesn’t care at the moment. All he knows is that he’s alive and safe….and a father! But before long things begin to change. As we saw in previous episodes, Baelfire does grow up to live with his cowardly father. Rumplestiltskin gains his dark powers which eventually send Baelfire to another realm. It’s here that Rumplestiltskin, living in the woods, is found by the now-grown seer from the battlefield. He demands she tell him how to get his son back. The seer, hesitantly, gives forth the information. Rumplestiltskin will be reunited with his son. Through a curse that will be enacted by another. The reunion will be most unexpected and will come about because of a young boy. However, this young boy will be Rumplestiltskin’s undoing. Rumplestiltskin, demanding more than the seer can provide, takes her fortune-telling abilities upon himself, which end up killing the seer. Knowing that a young boy will be his undoing, Rumplestiltskin vows to kill the boy. Nothing and no one will ever get in the way of his dark powers! In Storybrooke—or should I saw beyond Storybrooke—Emma, Henry, and Mr. Gold have arrived in Manhattan outside a quaint little apartment we have all seen from the episode “Broken.” The trio search Baelfire’s apartment number, concluding that the room number without a name must be his. Emma knows that when someone is running, they don’t want to make their presence known. Emma rings the bell, using the old cliché—UPS guy. No response. Seconds later they hear the clanging of footsteps on the fire escape. He’s running. Knowing he can’t run on his gimpy leg, Mr. Gold sends after the man—his son. Emma takes off, using back alleys to corner the runaway. The two slam into each other, falling on the ground. Emma looks up and into the face of Neal. No. It can’t be. Neal is Baelfire?! Neal can’t believe it’s Emma. After all these years, they’re together again. But wait. Why? How? Emma begins to yell, demanding that Neal explain his actions. How can he be Baelfire? Did he know who she was when they met? Know where she came from? Was this some sort of set up? Did Mr. Gold put him up to this? Neal tries to calm her, but she isn’t having it. Maybe they can talk somewhere less public…say a bar. Fine. But she wants answers. Neal confesses he knew nothing when they first met, but it was that night they stole the watches that he ran into Pinocchio who showed him undeniable evidence to leave Emma alone. What was it? Simply the words, “I know you are Baelfire” written in the typewriter. Neal’s sorry for leaving, but he had to. And he still love Emma. But Emma denies any love for him. There’s nothing good that came from their relationship. Nothing at all. Before they can say their good-byes, Emma has to keep her end of the deal with Mr. Gold: get Baelfire to talk to him. Neal doesn’t want to go. He has nothing to say to that man. For all he cares, Emma can tell Mr. Gold that he got away. So Emma returns and tells Mr. Gold that Baelfire got away. The only thing left to do now is…break into Neal’s apartment and see if he left any clues behind. Anything that will give his whereabouts or his past. As they search Neal’s apartment, Emma spots the dream catcher. Her sudden interest brings attention to Mr. Gold. There’s something she’s not telling him. Violently he demands an answer. Emma sends Henry out of the room. She tells Mr. Gold only the basics of the conversation she had with Neal. But Mr. Gold believes there is more. He starts to lunge at Emma when Neal barges through the door. In a breath-stopping scene, Henry comes back into the room; Emma and Neal confess they’ve known each other before and that Henry is Neal’s son. Yes, Mr. Gold, you have a grandson. Aw, what a Kodak moment. Well, not really. Neal is happy discover a son but not that he has a father again; Henry’s upset because Emma lied to him about his father, and Mr. Gold realizes that the boy from the seer’s fortune telling is Henry. The boy he vowed to kill… All’s well that ends well, right? I should mention that back in Storybrooke new discoveries are being made. For one, Regina, using magic, discovers a Dewey Decimal call number in Belle’s purse. This call number leads to the library, which leads to a hidden map. A map to what, you ask? A map that leads to Rumplestiltskin’s buried dagger, of course. Yep, the one that can kill him or control his evil, dark self. And with the help of Hook, it will soon be in Cora’s and Regina’s possession. But wait. There’s more… That little bit of magic Regina used is not lost on a certain snoopy stranger. Greg Mendel happened to be wandering the hospital halls with his fancy camera phone and snapped a short 10-second clip of Regina’s supernatural abilities. In a matter of minutes, that 10-second clip will be on its way via cell phone tower to the “her” on the other end of Greg’s line. And then what sort of chaos will ensue?Burning Questions: 1) Who is the “her” on Greg Mendel’s phone? 2) Will Belle ever be able to gain her memory back? 3) Did Mr. Gold lose his magic powers forever? If so, will they come back when he cross the Storybrooke city limits? How will this effect Cora and Regina’s evil plan to control the Dark One? 4) Will Mr. Gold decide not to kill Henry now that Henry’s his grandson? 5) Who knew that fairy tale families could play like soap opera families? 6) How awesome was this episode? – Completely awesome, if I say so myself. 7) Who’s anxious for the next episode? Will Mr. Gold live to the end of the season? ~ Taryn

As long as you hold the spirit of goodness in your heart, I shall never leave you. In Manhattan, NY, Emma, Henry, Mr. Gold, and Neal are becoming reacquainted...or should I say that Neal and Henry are the only ones bonding. Neal wants nothing to do with his father and Henry is giving Emma the cold shoulder. Like father, like son. Anyway, Mr. Gold wants Emma to make things right. Henry will get over her lie eventually. Can't Emma just talk Neal into coming to Storybrooke? Everyone will be together and live happily ever after. Like a fairy tale. Except there is that pesky bit about their pasts. Oh, and Hook wants to kill Mr. Gold. In Storybrooke, Hook has gone rogue. Lying to Regina and Cora about the dagger's whereabouts, Hook ambushes David, steals back his hook, and skips town. Taking a one-way cruise to Manhattan on his Jolly Rodger, Hook hunts down Mr. Gold and stabs him in the heart with his hook. The hook has been poisoned, and without magic, Mr. Gold could die. Emma locks the pirate in a storage closet and gets Mr. Gold to Neal's apartment. The situation is dire. They need to get to Storybrooke, to magic, to cure Mr. Gold. Two, no three problems exist: 1) Unbeknownst to the group, Cora plans to control Mr. Gold with the dagger as soon as she can find it and the gang returns to Storybrooke. Her solution, kill Mary Margaret, David, and Emma, and Henry will be Regina's forever. 2) Mr. Gold isn't that nice grandfatherly type. Henry, a boy, has been prophesied to be his undoing. And so far, undoing is all Henry's done. Mr. Gold still may want to kill Henry if he doesn't die first. 3) Neal has an added secret or two. Something about knowing Hook and Manhattan not being his first destination. Can you say "Peter Pan!" (Yep, I called it!) Oh, and there is that fiance. Hmm. Leave her behind, I say! Back in Storybrooke, Mary Margaret has tracked down an old family friend from Fairy Tale Land, Johanna the servant. Mary Margaret's only good link to her mother. But the visit is cut short by some odd noises coming from the dark woods. Brave Mary Margaret searches out the sound. It's Regina and Cora digging for the dagger. Cora unveils her evil plan, which creates panic in Mary Margaret and her running to tell David. She finds David lying on the floor. She wakes him and tells him the news. It's then she reveals her plan. Place doubt in Regina's heart about her mother and they just might be able to stop Cora temporarily. Oh, and tell their daughter. But the plan to cast doubt in Regina fails. Plan B: Find the dagger first and keep it away from Cora. Good plan. But where is that dagger? One phone call can change that. Emma gets the message and convinces a dying Mr. Gold to confess where his darkest secret is hidden. In the clock, of course. Before I go on, I must first tell you about Snow White's history. In Fairy Tale Land, Snow White was not always the goody-goody we know her as. It was only through her mother's gentle but firm hand that Snow White learned how to be a good girl. But when her mother becomes suddenly ill, Snow White is forced to make a hard decision. Johanna, the servant, tells Snow White to go to the Blue Fairy. There may be some magic to save her mother. Snow goes into the woods alone at night and seeks out the Blue Fairy. The kind fairy meets her and gives her a secret. There is magic that can save her mother but it is dark magic, outside the realm of fairies. If she tells Snow White, Snow White must never breath a word of it to anyone. And we know Snow White is so capable of keeping secrets... Anyway, Snow accepts. The magic is a candle. Snow White can save her mother by taking the life of another. Hold the candle over the victim (sacrifice) and the life will transfer to her mother. Snow, wanting to honor her mother by being a good girl takes the candle but can't follow through. Her mother will die, but Snow will have done the right thing. Snow's mother does die, and after the funeral a queer thing happens. The trustworthy Blue Fairy was not who she says she was. Rather, she was Cora in disguise. Not always, but for this moment. Cora transforms back into herself and offers a monologue of detail about her future plans. How she poisoned the queen so Regina will assume power, and how she'll turn her good daughter's heart as black as her hair. Not even the good legacy her mother had will be remembered. And so, as we know, Regina assumed power over the kingdom, turned evil, following in her mother's legacy. That day Regina saved Snow's life. Set up. So back in the Storybrooke clock tower, Mary Margaret and David find the dagger just as Regina and Cora poof in. They want the dagger, but Snow won't let them have it. Fine. Poof. Johanna joins the gang. Regina yanks out the servants heart and prepares to kill her if Mary Margaret doesn't hand over the beloved object. What to do, what to do? But then Cora says something interesting. Snow's mother always wanted her to be a good girl.... Cora was the Blue Fairy?! Mary Margaret is outraged. But she can't let someone lose their life, especially her last link to her mother. Mary Margaret hands over the dagger and Cora orders Regina to replace the heart. But not so fast. In one swoop, Cora sends Johanna through the glass tower to her death. It's a devastating end. Mary Margaret and David hold a very private funeral. It's here that Mary Margaret has a revelation. Maybe she's tried too hard to be good, to make the right decisions that they've become wrong decisions. Maybe Snow White shouldn't be so snow white. And at the heart of it all is Cora. To stop this madness, Cora must die...Burning Questions: 1) Is Neal/Baelfire also Peter Pan as suspected? 2) Who is this fiance? Wendy, perhaps? 3) Can Mr. Gold be saved? 4) How will this war rage? Who will win? Who will die? 5) Can Cora be stopped? 6) Can Regina ever turn good or is she going to be evil forever? 7) When will Mr. Gold, Emma, and Henry return to Storybrooke?~ Taryn

She can't love you, you know. She doesn't have her heart. With it, maybe she can.Before Cora was a younger Cora, who well, has always been the Cora we know and love hate. Just more or less powerful. Cora, as you can guess by the episode title, came from humble beginnings as a miller's daughter. True to the Rumpelstiltskin classic, the miller's daughter was locked in a tower to spin straw into gold for the king. What Rumpelstiltskin didn't share was that she actually got there on her own terms, seeking only power from the greedy royals who have nothing better to do than trip mere peasants brining flour and sell off their princes. So, Cora talked her own way into the palace and into a straw-filled tower. While she had no clue how to spin straw into gold, that was beside the point. She wanted only to bring the royals down a peg or two. But now that she's in this situation, the only person who can save her is Rumplestiltskin himself. The creepy imp appears, only too happy to provide his services for a price. But Cora has a different plan in mind. Yes, golden straw would be nice, but even better would be turning the straw into gold herself. Of course, it would only be fair to get back at those snobbish royals, too. Ah, Rumplestiltskin is pleased. So pleased is he that he becomes blinded by instant love. And who said love at first power-hungry, bloodthirsty word didn't exist? Rumplestiltskin teaches Cora to spin gold, which pleases the king, who gives Prince Henry's hand to Cora. This is a mere bump in Rumple's and Cora's love. As the two strike up a whirlwind romance, Rumplestiltskin alters his first contract for helping with the whole straw/gold thing. Originally, Cora would need to give up her first-born to Rumple; but what if the first-born was Rumple's? The power would be endless! Rumplestiltskin readily agrees to Cora's plan. She'll dump the kind but shallow Prince Henry and Rumplestiltskin and Cora will live happily ever after, carrying out their evil deeds and revenge on anyone they please. And truly, the two do love each other. But Cora knows that love is weakness. And love comes from the heart. And she can't have weakness for her plans. Using her newly refined powers, she rips out her own heart, seals it in a fancy little box, and meets Rumple to reveal the changed plans. Cora desires power more than love. And she loves Rumplestiltskin too much that their love can only get in the way of her evil, power-seeking ways. Rumplestiltskin is shocked and angered! How could she do that?! Fine, he'll just take her first-born child as planned. But wait, that was no longer in the contract. Without Cora, Rumplestiltskin would never have a child with Cora, would never have her first-born. Rumplestiltskin has no choice but to leave. Cora has her child, Regina, but she does not love. Because love is only weakness. In Storybrooke, Mr. Gold, Henry, Emma, and Neal have all made it back to the small town. Upon entering the magic-filled town, Mr. Gold can feel himself gaining a little strength. The group, which as expanded to include Mary Margaret and David, escort the dying sorcerer to his shop. Mr. Gold talks Emma into casting a protection spell on the store to keep Regina and Cora out. If they attack, the Charmings will die at the Dark One's hands. So, Emma, gains a lesson in spell casting. The spell works and the store is secured. But Cora is powerful and has learned from the best. Having listened to a bugged cell phone, the two women learn that Mr. Gold is back. His name on the dagger is fading, which clue's Regina into his injury. While the plan was to control the Dark One post-haste, the haste will have to halt. If they try to control him now, it could kill him for sure, then all his power will be lost forever. So, the two women show up at Gold's shop and Cora begins to weaken the protection. In the backroom, the room has cleared except for Mary Margaret and Gold. Gold instructs Mary Margaret to open a cabinet. Inside is a dangerouly familiar object. The candle that can trade one life for another. Mary Margaret is horrified. But Mr. Gold blackmails her into using it. If she doesn't, Cora will kill them; if she does, well...what is her family really worth to her? All she has to do is burn the candle, hold it over Cora's heart, which is not kept inside her chest, whisper Cora's name and...here come the tricky part....put the enchanted heart back inside the evil witch. Easier said than done, even if you don't have a conscience. But for Mary Margaret, the chance to save her family from Cora's destruction outweighs her snowy white namesake. It's not long before the barrier is broken. As the women face off with David, Neal, and Emma, Mary Margaret makes a dash for it out the back. Cora's heart is what she seeks! David is thrown out the door, trapping outside the store, but the storeroom fight is short-lived. The good guys retreat to the backroom, magically barricading themselves between good and evil. But someone is missing. Emma calls her father who chases after his wife. Mary Margaret, deep underground in Regina's mausoleum, has found Cora's beating, bodiless heart. Candle in hand, she lits the wicks and whispers her enemy's name. Cora! Cora! The deed is done! But has good truly won? Or has evil merely entered good's domain? Nevertheless, the spell has been felt by Cora. Someone is near her heart. Regina leaves the store to check it out. Regina finds Mary Margaret, heart box in hand, in the tomb's basement. Regina confronts her, but Mary Margaret knows how to wield a silver tongue. Cora simply needs her heart to love again. That's all she's been missing. Regina can have her mother's love, just put the heart back in its rightful place. Blinded by wanted love, Regina does Mary Margaret's bidding, sealing her mother's deadly fate. Outside the tomb, David finds Mary Margaret in a fetal position. What has she done? There is no coming back from murder! But as the two chase down Regina, it is too late. Cora has entered the backroom, removed Emma and Neal from her presence, and attempted to kill Mr. Gold, but not before revealing that her love from so long ago was real. So real that he was her weakness. She had no choice but to give him up to seek the power she desired. But before she can murder Mr. Gold and take his dark powers, Regina slams her mother's heart in her chest. Cora becomes delirious with love for Regina only to suddenly keel over. Regina is horrified. And to make matters worse, Mr. Gold is healed and the culprit for the crime just ran into the room. Mary Margaret will pay for her mother's death, if is the last thing she does!Burning Questions: 1) Did you think Mr. Gold's deathbed call to Belle was sweet? 2) Can you believe that Mary Margaret/Snow White committed murder? 3) Do you think that Regina and Mary Margaret are even now, Regina killed Mary Margaret's father and Mary Margaret killed Regina's mother, etc? Or is Regina justified in going after Mary Margaret, again? 4) Did you think Cora's and Rumplestiltskin's romance was sweet or awkward? 5) What're your theories for the remainder of the season?The countdown is on...5 episodes left until the Season 2 finale!~ Taryn

I did it. I won. First, I'd like to stay that "Welcome to Storybrooke" was the episode we've been waiting for! The acting was superb and the plot moved at exactly the right pace while keeping me at the edge of my seat, anticipating Regina's next move! By far, one of the best episodes of the season. Now, on to the review. Once upon a time the Evil Queen had promised all of the Enchanted Forest that a curse was coming, a curse that would take away everyone's happiness. But it wasn't until Regina woke up in 1983 wearing silk pajamas and marveling at the town before her that the realization that she had actually "won" became reality. She had finally achieved her happy ending. Or did she? What she didn't expect was that her happiness came at a very dear price. You see, the night of the curse, in the woods, a father and son were on a camping trip. Enjoying each others company and sharing 1980s past time activities (i.e. Creating plastic braided key chains), he radio begins to crackle. An electrical storm? Hardly. But nonetheless, the father quickly gathered his son in the tent as they watched a purple/black cloud envelope their camp. The next morning, the father and son stepped into the clearing. Branches, twigs, tree limbs, leaves were strewn everywhere. Some storm they had. Packing up, they headed out, aiming for the highway, some several miles away. Guess that's what they get for camping in the boonies. But something strange had occurred. In the middle of nowhere, not on any map, there was a town. Almost as if it had just landed on top of them. Strange because it hadn't been there the day before. Hmm... The father and son explore the mysterious town that had just appeared. What was this place? Behind them the sheriff's car pulls up and out steps the handsome-as-ever Sheriff Graham. Welcome to Storybrooke. As I said, Regina is pleased as apple pie that her curse worked. Everyone is in a daze, unaware of their true identity, and she is the mayor, in charge of them all! But her happily ever after is cut short when she discovers the young boy and his father. Kurt and Owen Flynn, from New Jersey. Regina is suspicious of them. She wants them out of her town ASAP. She wants to revel in her victory alone. It's sweeter that way. However, the daily events start to take a toll on Regina. She wakes up, walks down Main Street, Dr. Hopper greets her, Mary Margaret runs into Regina, Mary Margaret apologizes meekly, Regina watches as Mary Margaret visits the John Doe coma patient, and it starts all over the next day. And the next day, and the next day. Each day, life is not as sweet. The victory less appealing. What fun is it to take away their happiness if they don't even know it? If they don't even realize that their happiness was taken? If they're basically robots? Even Mr. Gold is oblivious and unhelpful. He merely suggests she visit Dr. Hopper if she's not happy. It's then that she remembers the precocious Owen Flynn and his father. They're the only "real" people in the whole town. What if she could convince them to stay? They'd already charmed their way into her heart. Or was that merely loneliness and unsatisfaction talking? It's a nice and selfish plan, however, her Evilness, er...Mayorness...hasn't quite honed her discrete ways. Nor does she know how to achieve that happiness in the right way. In her office, Regina takes out Graham's heart from its box and "tells" him to arrest the father and bring her his son. However, Kurt, the father, saw and heard the entire thing. He had stopped by to tell her they were leaving and to thank her for her kindness. But it seems her kindness was all a ruse. Before he can piece together what he just overheard and saw, Graham busts through the door and arrests Kurt. Kurt tries to reason with the man, but he's under Regina's influence. It won't work. But Kurt is resourceful and knocks the heart and box off the table, which causes Graham to clutch his chest and release Kurt. The man runs for his truck where Owen is waiting. Kurt slams the car into gear and speeds towards the city limits. Regina and Graham are hot on their tail. Regina can't let them get away. She longs for human, real, unrobotic, human contact. If they leave, she'll be stuck in a town without memories but her own. As the car chase nears the "Leaving Storybrooke" sign, the sheriff's car takes a shortcut and stops in front of Kurt's truck. The man yells at Owen to run away. Get out of this town and call for help. Owen is reluctant, but finally he runs for the town line. Before he can cross, Regina gets him to stop. She tries to apologize, but Owen won't hear it. He can't love her, not like this. Not when the love is forced. Owen runs away. Not long after, Owen returns with the police, but the city signs are gone. It was right here, he pleads. They took his father. Yet, the police can't help. There is no town, no father, no proof. Owen walks up to the place where the town line should be and yells into the abyss that he will come back someday and find his father. What he doesn't now is that Regina is standing right there next to the city limit sign. The town is merely invisible to Owen. And Regina mourns her loss of the lovable young boy. In present day Storybrooke, Mary Margaret is bedridden with guilt. Regina's out for her blood and Mr. Gold relays the message to his newfound family. No only that, but Regina is planning to enact a love curse. Not real love, of course, but a blinding love that makes the victim believe it's real. And Regina's intended victim is Henry. She'll cast the curse, which will require the heart of her enemy, Mary Margaret, and then Henry will be hers. The Charmings don't have a plan. They don't know how to fight back, which makes Henry angry. His family is heroes. People who fight for the good of all. Now all they want to do is sit back and wait? Henry, not one to sit and wait for a solution, decides to act on a plan. If he can destroy the magic then his family will be safe and Regina can't cast a "love" spell on him. It's a win-win for everyone. And to destroy the magic, well, he'll just throw some dynamite down the magical well. That should take care of it. Meanwhile, Greg Mendel, the stranger who was hospitalized and knows more than he should about Storybrooke, has decided to gather more evidence. A pseudo-hike in the woods with his camera phone should do it. It's there that Henry runs into Greg. The sneaky man discretely snaps a shot of Henry's backpack, which has Regina's number on it. Henry runs off. Greg calls Regina. I'm not sure why, but he tips her off to Henry's whereabouts. Regina immediately chases after Henry. She finds him at the well, dynamite and match in hand. She convinces him that his plan won't work. She'll cast the spell and everything will be right. But before Regina can act on her impulses, Emma and Neal show up ready to fight. Yet, it's Henry that talks his adoptive mother to relinquish her curse. It won't help anyone, it will only hurt her and Henry. He can't really love her, not when it's forced. Regina, wanting Henry's love more than anything, burns the spell. Henry, Emma, and Neal leave Regina standing bereft at the well. The next best thing, kill Mary Margaret. Regina barges into Mary Margaret's apartment, ready for revenge, but she's stopped by dear old granddad, Mr. Gold. Mary Margaret won't be able to hide behind him forever. And when he leaves, she'll be back. But Mary Margaret is in despair. She can't live with this guilt. So, she decides to confront Regina. At Regina's Mary Margaret pleads with Regina to kill her. Take her heart and crush it. Crush it! Yet, when Regina pulls out Mary Margaret's heart a new discovery replaces Regina's scowl with an evil grin. For inside Mary Margaret's once pure heart is a black spot. A black spot that will grow until her heart is black. Why kill Mary Margaret when the guilt will eat her alive? Why, Regina can still have her victory by watching Mary Margaret suffer, as intended from the beginning. Regina shoves Mary Margaret's heart back into her chest and orders the guilt-ridden woman off her porch. But hidden in the bushes is Greg Mendel and his handy-dandy camera phone. And he's captured the whole thing. As he jumps in his car, we see a familiar plastic key ring. Greg whispers to himself the promise he made all those years ago, 28 to be exactly, that he'll find his father. And he's on the verge of keeping it.Burning Questions: 1) Why was the town turn invisible when Owen returned with the police? Regina couldn't have used magic because there was none. How do "strangers" enter Storybrooke? 2) Where is Owen/Greg's father? 3) Can Mary Margaret ever turn her heart pure again? Or will she grow darker and darker? 4) When did Mr. Gold begin getting his memory back? Before Emma entered the town? When Henry entered the town? Or when Emma came? 5) How does Regina know the names of all her cursed victims? For example, Dr. Hopper has always been a cricket to her. 6) How did Henry come to Storybrooke as a baby? Who brought him? ~Taryn

Brave. Truthful. And unselfish. Don’t you see? That’s what Pinocchio was supposed to be.

Back in the times of Season 1, aka 2011, August is enjoying his life filled with worldly temptations, until the clock strikes midnight, er, 8:15. As we know, Emma has just arrived in Storybrooke for the first time and the clock has begun to move. The time-binding curse is starting to weaken. And as we also know, this is the time when August, half a world away in Phuket, feels the connection, literally. His leg, although invisible to others, is turning to wood.

Before the wood can spread, August seeks out medical help. But no doctor can help him, until he runs into the answer. The Dragon, a man known for his healing powers, can cure anything. This may be the answer, but as we know (since we know so much already), all magic comes with a price. An irreplaceable object and 10 grand.

While August has a priceless object, he doesn’t have the money. But his luck changes. A woman named Tamara, whom he’d seen visiting the Dragon and claiming to be diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, calls August over to the bar. They share a drink and Tamara, indiscreetly, pays for her drink from a wad of bills. Most like she’s packing $10,000 dollars in her purse.

Since August hasn’t learned his lesson yet, when Tamara gets a phone call and leaves the bar, August can’t help but nab the bills and high-tail it back to the Dragon. The Dragon, a wise Chinese magician, sees through August. He can see that August is turning into wood, but more than that, the Dragon knows that any cure will have to come from within. No magic can cure the heart.

But August just nods and takes the vile of glowing, magical liquid.

However, his wooden legs aren’t very strong. Before he can down the liquid cure, Tamara spots him in the alley. August runs and Tamara gives chase. When August falls, Tamara scoops up the vile. August deserves whatever is coming to him for his selfish ways. She walks off.

Later, Tamara returns to the Dragon and kills him, but not before revealing her desire for magic. She’s been searching everywhere and she finally found it in that vile of liquid. Whatever is in that bottle didn’t come from this land. It’s pure magic.

Back in Storybrooke, present day, Mary Margaret can’t get over her grief. Her heart is turning black and she can’t do anything about it. Better just stay home and hide under the covers. But Emma won’t hear of it. She’s tired of David allowing this babyish behavior. He needs to kick her out of bed and toss her back into the world again. Enough is enough.

Mary Margaret overhears from beneath the covers and decides to take some action. She needs some time to think. Alone. In the woods. With just her bow and arrow. But after a few bulls-eye shots, one misses and hits something just beyond the trees. There’s crashing and Mary Margaret bravely chases the sound.

What she finds is a beaten down trailer. Inside is a familiar face, albeit, wooden. August has been camping/hiding out in the woods. He’s let everyone down. He’s not selfless or brave or true. He’s anything but. And look where it’s gotten him. Pretty soon he’ll be solid wood.

Mary Margaret pleads for him to come back to town. Surely there’s an answer. Surely the Blue Fairy could give him a second chance. Everyone deserves a second chance, no matter what they’ve done. Right? But August refuses. Mary Margaret wouldn’t understand. She couldn’t. She’s Snow White for crying out loud. Her heart is pure.

While Mary Margaret doesn’t share her recently sordid actions, she finally leaves August to his grief. But she doesn’t stop trying to find the answer.

Meanwhile, Neal has some news for Emma. That fiancé he has back in New York, well she’s on her way to Storybrooke. Right now. As in, she should be here any minute.

Rightfully shocked, Emma tells Neal that if she’s coming here, then Neal better be able to tell the fiancé who he really is. When the fiancé shows up, Emma, Neal, Henry, and the fiancé all share some nice bagels. The fiancé shares with Emma how Neal and she met. It’s a funny story really. She ran into him, spilled some coffee on her blouse, Neal offered his scarf to cover of the damage, and voila! The rest is history. Or is it?

Emma just smiles and excuses herself from the awkward moment, taking Henry with her. This is Neal’s chance to reveal himself. But the fiancé thinks he’s crazy. She stomps off. When Neal’s ready to tell her the truth, no some fairy tale, then she’ll listen. But maybe it would be better if they just took some time off.

What Neal doesn’t know, is where the fiancé goes next or that she’s not who she’s claimed to be. Her name is Tamara. And she’s in town searching for something of great value but always comes with a price.

In Granny’s, Tamara overhears Mary Margaret tell Emma where August is and she decides to follow. Getting to the trailer first, Tamara greets August’s wooden face.

Tamara invites herself in and reveals her true nature for being in Storybrooke. She wants magic and she plans to get it. But August can’t be here. After what he did to her back in Hong Kong, well, let’s just say that August owes her. That vile that the Dragon gave away, she didn’t use it. She never had cancer. It’s in her apartment in New York. August can leave and go get it. But once he leaves, he can’t ever come back.

August doesn’t want to leave, but he doesn’t want to be wooden either. So he takes the bribe and her car and hits the road. But just outside Storybrooke, a small picture falls out of the car visor. It’s a picture of Tamara and her grandmother. Putting two and two together, August makes a U-turn and races back to save the town from Tamara.

His first call is to Emma, who’s in the woods tracking down his trailer. But his warning isn’t fast enough. Tamara’s on his tail and has cut the lines. While August tries to live up to his better nature, Tamara has other plans. Whipping out her Taser, Tamara shocks August into near unconsciousness.

In the woods, while tracking down August’s trailer, Marco reveals that the wardrobe that he made could have held two, but he made the Blue Fairy tell Snow White there was only enough magic for one. Snow White could have gone with Emma, but he wanted to save his boy.

Mary Margaret punches Marco, who tried to apologize. Mary Margaret’s shocked by her actions and tries to apologize, but Marco takes the blame. He deserved it after what he did.

Then August calls and the group heads back to town, collecting David and Henry along the way, only to find August stumble out of the courthouse. With his dying breath, he tries again to warn Emma of someone. The words aren’t clear. There’s not enough time before his body turns to solid wood.

Henry remarks that August’s last actions prove that he was trying to be selfless, brave, and true. If so, then the Blue Fairy can turn him back to a real boy. When she does, the wooden August transforms into the little-boy Pinocchio. A young boy without memories of what just transpired or who he was trying to warn them against.

And just as the transformation took place, Tamara had appeared. Sweetly, she apologizes to Neal and the two decide to stick it out.

Back in Mary Margaret’s apartment, Mary Margaret reveals to David that she went to Regina so that Regina would kill her. Her heart is turning black. How can one come back from the darkness? She asks. She doesn’t want to lose everything in order to be free again.

David assures her that she can redeem herself. He knows because he knows her true heart. And it isn’t black. It can’t be. She’s Snow White.

Meanwhile, Regina confronted Greg Mendel. There was just something about him that was familiar to her. It wasn’t until she remembered the plastic key chain that it came to her. Greg is Owen. And he’s searching for his father. But too bad because his father isn’t here anymore. He left…or disappeared…soon after Owen left.

Owen isn’t satisfied. He won’t leave until he finds his father. No matter what threats Regina sends his way. And what’s more, is the mysterious caller “Her” is here. Just outside his Bed and Breakfast door.

Greg smiles as he opens the door to his cohort and lover. She’s none other than…

Tamara.

Burning Questions: 1) Can Mary Margaret’s heart turn pure again? 2) Where is Owen’s father? Did he really just “disappear?” 3) What is Tamara’s and Owen’s end game? What will they do with the magic? Does Owen really know who Tamara is? 4) Who else is excited for Robin Hood?!

Come back in 3 weeks to see an hours-worth of Once Upon a Time Behind the Scene footage on ABC—April 14 at 8/7c. And then on April 21, an all-new Once Upon a Time.